Amit Shah Likely To Speak On Delhi Riots In Parliament Today

Fifty-three deaths and 13 days later, Parliament will reassemble after Holi break to discuss the Delhi riots today. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to present the government’s reply on the events and authorities’ response during the violence in North-East Delhi that left nearly 300 injured. The Congress and other Opposition parties have been pressing for the debate on the issue. Earlier there were reports about the Home Minister speaking on Delhi riots on March 2, the day the second phase of the Budget Session had resumed. However, Wednesday’s discussion is likely to take place as per the listed schedule. The Narendra Modi government has listed discussion on Delhi Riots in Lok Sabha from 1pm onwards today. Sources say that the Home Minister will reply around 6pm later in the day. Lawmaker Meenakshi Lekhi will initiate discussion from BJP Side.

The worst violence that National Capital has witnessed in last four decades, 53people have died and nearly 300 have been injured. A strange disquiet looms over the areas of North-East Delhi. An Aaj Tak report said that the civic authorities recovered 20 tonnes of bricks and stones from the roads of the area. The Home Minister is facing extra scrutiny as the Delhi Police comes under his purview. The Opposition has repeatedly raised allegations against the Delhi Police for its apathy and inaction during the peak of Delhi riots. A civic society report found out that hundreds of distress calls by panicked residents were not answered by the cops for nearly 72 hours.

Amit Shah chaired three back-to-back emergency meetings to monitor the situation during the Delhi riots. That meeting was also attended by Indian Police Service (IPS) officer SN Srivastava, who was appointed as the special police commissioner. In the meeting, Shah had urged the leaders to rise above politics to tackle the situation, news agency ANI reported. On February 26, there was another meeting that was attended by Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief, Home secretary and other top officials. National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, who was given the charge to bring the Delhi violence under control, visited the office of DCP Northeast.

According to latest figures provided by the Delhi Police, 254 FIRs have been registered. Nearly 1,000 individuals have been either detained or arrested for the alleged involvement in the Delhi riots. A conservative estimate by a business body in the National Capital suggests that nearly properties worth Rs 25,000 crore were destroyed in the communal violence. There are several posts by volunteers on the internet about anti-social characters snatching the relief material.  

(With agency inputs)